How Many Calories Are in 1 Grilled Bacon?

October 31, 2025 •

3 min read

According to nutritional data, a typical medium slice of cooked pork bacon contains approximately 40 to 43 calories. The exact number of calories in 1 grilled bacon, however, can vary significantly depending on the cut of meat, its thickness, and how long it is cooked, as more fat is rendered off the crispier it gets.

Quick Summary

The calorie count for a single grilled bacon slice varies significantly based on the cut, thickness, and how much fat is rendered during cooking. Standard slices are around 40-50 calories.

Key Points

Depends on the Cut: The calorie count varies significantly between different bacon cuts, such as streaky, back, and Canadian bacon.
Affected by Cooking Method: Grilling typically renders more fat than pan-frying, which can lead to a lower final calorie count per slice.
Average Range: A typical medium grilled pork bacon slice contains approximately 40 to 43 calories.
Crispiness Lowers Calories: Cooking bacon until it is very crispy causes more fat to cook off, resulting in fewer calories in the final product.
Leaner Options Exist: For lower calorie intake, Canadian bacon or fat-trimmed back bacon are excellent, leaner alternatives to streaky cuts.
Portion Control is Key: As calories add up with each slice, managing portion size is important for those on a calorie-controlled diet.

Understanding Bacon's Calorie Variability

The calorie content of a single strip of grilled bacon is not a fixed number, but rather a variable influenced by several key factors. The primary considerations are the cut of pork used, the thickness of the slice, and the final level of crispiness. Because grilling facilitates the draining of rendered fat, it can often result in a slightly lower-calorie product compared to frying, where bacon cooks in its own grease. However, this is heavily dependent on the type of bacon and how effectively the fat drips away during cooking.

Calorie Breakdown for Different Grilled Bacon Types

The specific cut of bacon you choose has a major impact on the final calorie count. Different cuts have varying fat-to-lean-meat ratios, which directly affects the caloric density. Here is a guide to help estimate the calorie count for common types of grilled bacon:

Standard Grilled Pork Bacon: A medium, U.S.-style slice of pork bacon typically contains between 40 and 43 calories after being cooked and drained.
Grilled Streaky Bacon: A single, thin 15g slice of grilled streaky bacon (common in the UK) is about 50 kcal.
Grilled Back Bacon: In the UK, a 25g rasher of grilled back bacon contains approximately 72 kcal.
Fat-Trimmed Grilled Back Bacon: Choosing a leaner cut can significantly reduce calories. A 25g rasher of fat-trimmed back bacon is around 54 kcal.
Grilled Canadian Bacon: Known for being a much leaner option, one slice of grilled Canadian-style bacon contains about 87 calories.
Extra Crispy Grilled Bacon: Cooking bacon to a very crispy state renders more fat, slightly lowering the calorie count compared to less crispy versions. A 10g slice of crispy grilled back bacon, for example, is around 31 kcal.

The Impact of Cooking Technique

How you cook your bacon is crucial for controlling the final calorie content. When grilling, the use of a wire rack allows excess fat to drip away from the meat, reducing the overall caloric load. This is a primary difference between grilling and pan-frying, where bacon often cooks in its own rendered fat. For the most accurate calorie counting, some suggest weighing the bacon after it's cooked, as the weight loss is primarily from rendered fat.

Comparison Table: Calorie Differences by Bacon and Cooking Method


Type of Bacon (approx. 15-25g)	Grilled (Calories)	Pan-Fried (Calories)	Key Difference
Standard Pork Bacon	~40-43	~43	Grilling on a rack drains fat more efficiently than cooking in a pan.
Streaky Bacon	~50 (15g slice)	~50 (15g slice)	Fat can be absorbed back into the meat if not drained well in a pan.
Back Bacon (Leaner)	~72 (25g rasher)	~74 (25g rasher)	Frying tends to retain slightly more fat and thus more calories.
Canadian Bacon (Leanest)	~87 (per slice)	~84 (per slice)	Very little fat renders out, so calorie differences are minimal.

Tips for Enjoying Grilled Bacon Mindfully

Choose Leaner Cuts: If calorie counting is a priority, opt for back bacon or Canadian bacon, which contain significantly less fat than streaky pork belly cuts.
Control Your Portions: Be mindful that calories and fat can add up quickly with multiple slices. Sticking to a single serving is key.
Use Proper Grilling Technique: Place bacon on a wire rack over a tray to ensure maximum fat drainage during the grilling process.
Blot Excess Fat: After grilling, pat the bacon with a paper towel to soak up any remaining surface fat, further reducing the calorie count.
Consider Alternatives: For a substantial calorie reduction, explore options like turkey bacon, which contains around 30 calories per slice, or plant-based alternatives.

Conclusion

Ultimately, there is no single answer to how many calories are in 1 grilled bacon because the exact figure is dependent on several variables, primarily the type of bacon and how it's cooked. A standard grilled slice falls in the range of 40 to 50 calories, but options like leaner back bacon or Canadian bacon can offer a lower-calorie alternative for those monitoring their intake. By understanding the factors that influence the final calorie count and employing mindful cooking and portioning techniques, you can easily incorporate grilled bacon into a balanced diet. For precise calorie tracking, it's best to consult nutrition labels for your specific brand or a reliable food database.

For more detailed nutritional data on various foods, including different bacon preparations, you can consult the USDA's FoodData Central website.

Frequently Asked Questions

To reduce the calories in grilled bacon, cook it on a wire rack to allow excess fat to drip away. For even less fat, use leaner cuts like back bacon or Canadian bacon, and blot the cooked strips with a paper towel to absorb any remaining surface grease.

Yes, generally, grilled bacon can have fewer calories than fried bacon. When bacon is grilled on a rack, more fat drips away from the meat. When pan-fried, the bacon often cooks and absorbs its own rendered fat, resulting in a slightly higher calorie count if the grease is not drained.

Streaky bacon, which comes from the fatty pork belly, typically has more calories per slice than back bacon, which is a leaner cut from the pork loin. For example, a 15g slice of grilled streaky bacon can be around 50 kcal, while a 25g rasher of fat-trimmed grilled back bacon is about 54 kcal.

Yes, crispy bacon has fewer calories than less cooked bacon. The more you cook bacon, the more fat is rendered out and drips away, leaving a crispier product with a lower calorie count per slice.

Cooking bacon at a higher temperature for a longer period will cause more fat to be rendered from the meat. This process can reduce the final calorie count, as the fat is the most calorie-dense component.

For the most accurate count, weigh the raw bacon using a food scale and look up the raw calorie data. This is often more precise than relying on cooked values, which can vary depending on how much fat is rendered during cooking.

Canadian bacon is a much leaner option. One slice contains roughly 87 calories, while a medium slice of traditional grilled pork belly bacon is around 40-43 calories. However, it's important to compare slices of similar thickness, as Canadian bacon slices are often thicker and larger than standard pork bacon strips.